Device for preventing unauthorized tampering of container caps

ABSTRACT

A device to prevent unauthorized tampering with container caps, comprising a protective hood including coupling elements for coupling the device to the neck of the container, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the hood on the neck and a tamper-proof locking mechanism of the adjustment mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a device for preventing unauthorized tampering with container caps, especially to prevent the opening of caps on bottle, vials, and the like by people who are not authorized to do so.

Closing devices for bottles, vials and the like are known which have means to guarantee against tampering. However, these devices are only apt for indicating whether the container has been opened or not, but in no case do they prevent opening of the container.

Caps are also known which are somewhat difficult to open and which are especially designed to prevent their opening by children. This type of caps is applicable to containers for medicines, detergent products, etc.

However, none of the closing caps for bottles and containers in general have means that allow opening only by an authorized person or people, thus preventing the opening of the container by unauthorized people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to resolve the problem set forth, by means of a device that may be coupled to the cap of a bottle or vial and generally over any container that has a neck ending in a ridge or outer widening adjacent to the mouth.

The device of the invention comprises a protective hood for the cap, having coupling means for coupling it to the neck of the container and for fixing it thereto, so that it may only be separated or removed by authorized people. This hood forms a cover covering the cap, preventing the cap from being tampered with without previously removing the device.

The coupling means of the device or neck of the container include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting it on the neck of the container, under the ridge or the end widening thereof, and a tamper-proof locking mechanism for the adjustment means.

The hood forming the device of the invention is defined by a wall that forms a cover which covers the cap and axially projects from the free edge in a series of strips. On the end portions of the strips, the coupling means for coupling it to the neck of the container are assembled. To this end, these strips are finished off at their end portion in a passage located, which is at the same height in all the strips, and in which there is the coupling means comprising a clamp adjustable to the neck of the container and which includes a worm screw as an adjustment mechanism which meshes with a threaded end portion of the clamp.

The locking mechanism of the device of the invention comprises a combination lock which, in its locking position, acts on a non-return mechanism of the adjustment mechanism, preventing its actuation in the clamp releasing or opening direction.

With the described constitution, the device of the invention serves as a protective element of the cap, preventing tampering therewith by any unauthorized person who does not have the means to release the locking mechanism, for example, a person who does not know the lock combination, if such mechanism comprises a combination lock.

The device of the invention will thus prevent extracting or modifying the contents of the bottle or container. The device of the invention may be used as a security means to prevent children from accessing the contents of certain containers, to prevent extracting part of the contents of the container, for example, of drinks, etc.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The constitution and features of the device of the invention may be better understood with the following description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which a non-limiting embodiment is shown:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of a device formed according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an upper plan view of the same device.

FIG. 4 shows a diametric sectional view of the device, following section line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the device, following section line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the coupling means of the adjustment mechanism and the locking mechanism of the device shown in section in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the device of the invention comprises a protective hood 1 for a bottle or container cap having coupling means for coupling it to the neck of the container formed by a clamp 2. This clamp or coupling means 2 has an adjustment mechanism 3 for adjusting it on the neck of the container and a tamper-proof locking mechanism 4 of the adjustment means 3.

The hood 1 forms a cover which covers the cap 5 which closes the opening of a bottle or container 6. The wall of this cover or hood extends from the free edge in a series of strips 7 which are finished off at their end portions in a passage 8 which is located at the same height in all the strips 7 and through which the clamp 2 is passed.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the clamp 2, of known constitution, has an outer end portion 9 provided with teeth 10, which meshes with a worm screw 11, operated by the outer control knob 12. By turning the control 12 in one direction or the other, and thus turning the worm screw 11, the diameter of the clamp 2 is reduced or increased and is thus adjusted on or released from the neck 13, shown in FIG. 4, of a container 6. The clamp 2 may have internal lining strips 14 of a deformable material which serve as adjustment elements on the neck 13 of the bottle and to attenuate the pressure exerted by the closing of the clamp 2 by acting on the control 12.

The locking mechanism 4 of the adjustment mechanism described, it may comprise a combination lock, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which in the locking position acts upon an adjustment mechanism non-return mechanism, preventing the action of the adjustment mechanism in the direction of release or opening of the clamp 2. To this end, the non-return mechanism may be made up of an attached catch 15 of the shaft of the screw 11, against which a stop 16 may act which, in the closing position of the locking mechanism 4, is opposite the teeth of the catch 15, preventing the screw 11 from rotating in the opening direction thereof, like a pawl and ratchet arrangement. Upon opening the locking mechanism 4, the stop 16 no longer acts upon the catch 15, thus enabling the control 12 of the adjustment mechanism 11 to freely rotate in one direction or the other.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, when placing the device of the invention on the neck 13 of a container 6 and tightening the clamp 2 forming the adjustment device, the separation of the device from the neck 13 will be practically impossible, especially when the neck is finished off at its upper portion by a peripheral ridge or widening, as is usual in the necks of bottles and similar containers.

The passage 8 which is ended by the strips 7 in their lower portions may be replaced by a simple bend or thickening of the lower portions of the strips, which would prevent extraction thereof once the adjustment mechanism is locked on the neck.

The locking mechanism of the adjustment mechanism could also adopt a different constitution to that described, possibly comprising, for example, a traditional lock, and the actuation of the lock could lock or unlock the adjustment mechanism.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims. 

1. A device for preventing unauthorized tampering with a container cap, comprising: a protective hood for the cap, the hood including coupling elements for coupling the hood to a neck of the container; the coupling elements include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the coupling elements on the neck of the container; and a tamper-proof locking mechanism operable on the adjustment mechanism for locking or unlocking the coupling elements on the neck.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hood defines a cover which covers the container cap and the cover axially extends from the free edge of a wall thereof in a series of strips, end portions of the strip have the coupling elements thereon for coupling to the neck of the container.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling elements comprise an adjustable clamp, and the adjustment mechanism coupling a worm screw which meshes with a toothed end portion of the clamp.
 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the strips into which the wall of the hood extend have end portions finished in a passage located at the same height on all the strips, the passage enabling passage therethrough of the strip forming the clamp.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism of the adjustment mechanism comprises a combination lock having a locking position that acts upon a non-return mechanism of the adjustment mechanism for preventing the actuation of the adjustment mechanism in the clamp release or opening direction.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the non-return mechanism comprises a stop attached to the shaft of the closing mechanism, and in the locking position thereof, the stop acts against an attached catch of the shaft of the adjustment mechanism.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements comprise an adjustable clamp and the adjustment mechanism comprising a worm screw which meshes with a toothed end portion of the clamp. 